Ljungberg was fouled in the box to earn a penalty that Ibrahimovic converted before sub Marcus Allback rifled in a terrific volley in stoppage time.

Sweden made a lively start and Ibrahimovic brilliantly controlled a raking through ball only to see his goalbound shot deflected away for a corner.

Bulgaria were making their first appearance in a major tournament since a 6-1 thumping at the hands of Spain in the 1998 World Cup, but after starting nervously they soon acclimatised to the ferocious pace of the game.

Sweden suffered a scare when Marian Hristov tumbled in the box, but English referee Mike Riley waved play on.

Soon after, Bulgaria had a real chance to go in front, Martin Petrov swinging in a lovely cross from the left that Jankovic volleyed narrowly wide.

As the game swung from end to end, Larsson directed Mikael Nilsson's right-wing cross over, before Berbatov's thumping header forced Isaksson to brilliantly tip over the bar.

Just after the half-hour mark, Sweden went ahead. Ibrahimovic raced away down the right after a mistake from Ivailo Petkov, and the Ajax striker surged into the box and fed Ljungberg, who tapped home from six yards.

Edman found room down the Sweden left and whipped over a glorious cross that Larsson - hurling himself horizontally at the ball - headed stunningly past Zdravkov. It is an early contender for goal of the tournament.

Just 71 seconds later the game was over, Andreas Svensson sending the ball across the face of goal for Larsson to neatly slot into the roof of the net.

Bulgaria looked shell-shocked and in truth they did not deserve such a heavy beating, though it almost got worse when Ibrahimovic danced through again only to be thwarted by Zdravkov.

It soon was four. Ljungberg's surging run was ended in the box by Vladimir Ivanov's foul and Ibrahimovic coolly slotted home the penalty.

Marcus Allback was sent on for Ibrahimovic with ten minutes to go and the Aston Villa striker sealed a magnificent display with a fine finish to make it five in injury time.

The 5-0 victory marks the second biggest win ever at a European Championship and the biggest win ever for Sweden in this competition.

This 5-0 eclipse of Bulgaria is the second biggest victory Sweden have ever recorded at a major tournament. In the closing minutes of the match, the Swedes just improved on the result of the 3rd place play-off match at the 1994 World Cup, when they secured a 4-0 win against Bulgaria.

This 5-0 defeat marks the biggest defeat ever for Bulgaria at the European Championships, beating their 3-1 beating by France in 1996.

Henrik Larsson became Sweden's European Championship top scorer when he netted twice against Bulgaria. Larsson's competition total is now lifted to three goals, equalling the Swedish record of Tomas Brolin.